The Hard Tackle assesses three potential options to take over from Ange Postecoglou after Tottenham Hotspur sacked him earlier this week.
The open secret was finally no longer one, as Tottenham Hotspur parted ways with Ange Postecoglou on Friday evening. The decision has invited vastly differing opinions from followers of the game, pundits, and Tottenham players and fans.
A report by the Daily Telegraph has suggested that the Lilywhites face a player revolt after sacking Postecoglou, as the Australian tactician was a favourite among the first-team squad. That has become more apparent from the glowing tributes the Tottenham players have posted on their social media channels.
While some fans were vocal about their displeasure with Tottenham’s results under Postecoglou in the 2024/25 season, many displayed utmost gratitude for ending the North London club’s frustrating and troll-inducing drought by winning the UEFA Europa League final against Manchester United last month.
However, while there was a case for firing Postecoglou and keeping him, Tottenham’s decision means the fans and players must start preparing for life under a new manager. The North London club’s search for a new head coach has gone on for months, with reports linking them with a myriad of tacticians. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle lists three realistic options for Tottenham as they zero in on Postecoglou’s replacement.
Thomas Frank
Our first two suggestions are the obvious options on Tottenham Hotspur’s wishlist, with widespread reports linking the North London club with these managers. First up, we recommend Thomas Frank as the prime candidate to take over from Ange Postecoglou at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Danish tactician has become one of the most highly-rated managers in the Premier League after doing a stellar job with Brentford since taking the West London club from the second division to the top flight.
The Bees have become renowned for their defensive astuteness, with Frank making his charges play as more than the sum of their parts. Those are qualities that are sorely lacking at Tottenham, with the North London outfit having one of the worst defensive records in the Premier League in the 2024/25 season.
While Tottenham kept a clean sheet in the UEFA Europa League final, a more competent opponent could have scored multiple goals past Guglielmo Vicario. So, the Lilywhites need a manager who can put up a solid defensive structure. While fans may be wary of not playing an attractive brand of football, Frank has shown his teams are capable of playing that way against lesser opponents. So, the style should improve at a club like Tottenham.
Marco Silva
The other obvious target for Tottenham also plies his trade in the Premier League. We are talking about Marco Silva, who has resurrected his stuttering fortunes since joining Fulham a few years ago, helping the West London outfit become a stable top-flight club.
The Cottagers yo-yoed between the Premier League and the EFL Championship before Silva arrived at Craven Cottage in 2021. While Fulham may have failed to take the next step of becoming a contender for European qualification, Silva’s stabilising effect has established them as a mainstay in the top flight.
As for the Portuguese tactician’s suitability for the job, he is renowned for his tactical flexibility and can set his team up to defend or attack depending on the opponent. Silva’s sides thrive on a possession-based system, and that should benefit players like Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Pedro Porro, among others.
In addition, Silva’s teams do not press recklessly and focus on maintaining a structure off the ball. That should solidify Tottenham’s defensive output instead of making them prone to conceding cheap goals. With the 47-year-old reportedly open to joining Tottenham, an agreement may be on the cards.
Xavi
Before we get to our final recommendation, we discuss a few honourable mentions. Francesco Farioli, Andoni Iraola, and Kieran McKenna were viable candidates to replace Postecoglou at Tottenham. However, only Farioli is approachable for the North London club, although we reckon Xavi is the ideal target.
The former Barcelona manager is looking for his next job since leaving the Blaugrana nearly 12 months ago. So, with Tottenham back in the UEFA Champions League, they may have the goods to tempt the former Spanish international to return to the dugout after a year-long hiatus from the managerial world.
While Xavi’s carefully worked possession-based system will be a far cry from Ange Postecoglou’s high-octane setup, that may be the ideal foil for the North London club to become a more potent team.
The 45-year-old tactician focuses on positional play, and maintaining the structure on and off the ball is crucial. In addition, Xavi prefers using pacy wide attackers, and that brings Tottenham’s current squad into the picture with the recently used 4-2-3-1 formation. So, Xavi is an option worth considering for the Lilywhites as they prepare for life after Postecoglou.